Country
Countries A-Z
Guatemala
Republic of Guatemala
República de Guatemala
Political Status: Independent Captaincy General of Guatemala proclaimed 1821; member of United Provinces of Central America, 1824–1838; separate state established 1839; most recent constitution (adopted May 31, 1985, with effect from January 14, 1986) amended by referendum of January 30, 1994.
Area: 42,042 sq. mi. (108,889 sq. km).
Population: 17,245,000 (2018E—World Bank); 15,730,576 (2018E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2018E): GUATEMALA CITY (2,740,000), Mixco (473,080), Villa Nueva (406,830), Quetzaltenango (132,230), Escuintla (103,165).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Quetzal (market rate October 19, 2018: 7.65 quetzales = $1US). Since May 1, 2001, foreign currencies have been permitted to circulate and may be used in business transactions.
President: James (Jimmy) MORALES Cabrera (National Convergence Front); elected in runoff election on October 25, 2015, and sworn in for a four-year term ...